The majority of the scallop industry of the UK has withdrawn from a large stakeholders’ symposium last Thursday, resulting in its cancellation.
The trouble has been caused by an astonishing display of prejudice against the industry by the CEO of Natural England. Her use of ridiculous language to reveal a biased view of a sustainable industry supporting local communities has destroyed all faith in Natural England’s even-handedness.
"Rape and Pillage" are the words used by Helen Philips, CEO of Natural England, the government advisers on the marine environment, to describe the legitimate operations of scalloping vessels in the seas off Lyme Regis, in the decades before ex-Fisheries Minister, Jonathan Shaw, last year ordered the closure of the 60 square miles of the valuable scallop beds and nearby reefs in Lyme Bay.
In the light of her comments and other recent remarks from the higher echelons of Natural England, the following statement is issued on behalf of the majority of the UK Scallop Dredging Industry, as represented by the Scallop Association, the Southwest Inshore Fishermen’s Association and the South Western Fish Producer Organisation Ltd.
“In describing their legitimate activities as “rape and pillage”, Helen Philips has exposed deep-seated prejudices and has insulted the scallopers and families, whose livelihoods have been decimated by the closure last August of the Lyme Bay scallop fishery.
“Her words could not have been more deliberately chosen, aimed as they were at an audience comprised mainly of environmental lobbyists at the Coastal Futures 2009 conference in London on 20th January.
“She may have massaged her own ego by pandering to her audience, but her timing could not have been worse, or her choice of words more hurtful. It is clear to us that she cannot wait to close down even more scallop and trawling beds in the processes laid down in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.
“The irony is that her SW Regional Director, Janette Ward, had that same day sent invitations to “stakeholders” for a “Proposed Partners Dinner”, in an effort to patch up the “unfortunate break in relations between us” caused by the Lyme Bay closure. The industry recipients of this invitation almost choked at the thought of dining with the regional leaders of Natural England, while their national leader lobbies for the extermination of this valuable shellfish sector!
“Instead of being “consulted”, we have simply been “conned”. Instead of being praised for our valuable contribution to marine conservation work, we have been pilloried as ‘though common criminals”, said Jim Portus, who witnessed Helen Philips’ savage attack. He said:
“The industry deserves better. They deserve respect and recognition for the work they conducted with marine scientists in Lyme Bay and in other areas. They have helped establish seabed surveys and, in 2001, local fishermen volunteered to protect areas of reef habitat, as identified by Devon Wildlife Trust. Voluntarily and thanks to the wisdom and guidance of Ben Bradshaw, MP and Minister of Fisheries at the time, the protected areas expanded greatly in 2006. Sadly, the industry was treated with contempt and all 60 square miles of scallop beds and reefs were closed in 2008 by Jonathan Shaw, MP, on the advice of Natural England, whose only agenda, it is now clear, is to cause the downfall of the scalloping industry through area-by-area closures.”
“Stakeholder engagement is supposed to be an essential feature of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill presently on-passage through Parliament. We know that the Scottish equivalent Bill contains presumption in favour of existing economic activity, like scalloping, and we should have such a provision in the English Bill. Sadly, it seems, we have no more respect than rapists and pillagers and, with Natural England’s record, we can have no faith in them listening. We might as well stay away and carry on fishing until they close us down!
“We had all intended to attend a Scallop Symposium in London at Fishmonger’s Hall on 29th January, at which James Marsden, Director Marine, Natural England, was to present the keynote address. We will boycott that event and will have no further engagement with Natural England.
“The industry feels that it has no reason to apologise for the contribution it makes to food security in the UK. Scallops are not only healthy and wholesome, but the stocks in UK waters are harvested within safe biological limits. We have no reason to be ashamed of what we do for a living that is legitimate and is conducted without government handouts.”
